Born on July 17, 1947,Camilla Parker Bowles(nee Shand) entered a world of privilege.
For years, her public image was tainted by this controversy, but public sentiment eventually shifted.
Both of her parents came from substantial fortunes of their own.
“Fun was one of the main things I remember about the Shand household.
There were ponies, dogs, picnics.”
She said, “We were brought up in a very happy family … it was idyllic.”
Camilla’s friend, Broderick Munro-Wilson, told Graham (viaOK!
), “She was quite commanding and would always have other girls around her.”
While Camilla flourished socially and athletically, she reportedly wasn’t the best student.
Her time at the firm was short lived, though.
“Andrew went over to her and simply said, ‘Let’s dance.’
They danced and she fell in love.”
It was during one of these breaks, in 1971, that Camilla met Prince Charles.
He departed without making a commitment to Camilla, and she ended up marrying Andrew in 1974.
There were a lot of obstacles in their way, though.
For starters, Camilla truly cared for Andrew Parker Bowles.
“His hand publicly forced, Andrew proposed.”
Four years later, Camilla gave birth to her second child, Laura.
By all accounts, Camilla was a good mother.
Her son, Thomas, told the outlet that Camilla is “an exceptional mother.”
He added, “She never got cross about bad school reports, getting into trouble and so on.
She would come to Eton and take me out to McDonald’s.”
Prince Charles was even named as a godfather to Camilla’s son, Thomas.
“It was horrid,” she told theDaily Mail’s You magazine.
Andrew was also unfaithful to his wife, notedVanity Fair.
The embarrassment was too much for Andrew, who finally demanded a divorce.
PerBrides, their divorce was announced in 1995, although they had already been separated for two years.
His family still did not approve of Camilla, especially after their affair caused a scandal.
Eventually, she became resigned to the relationship.
The public was another matter, though.
Prince Charles' future subjects had adored Princess Diana and viewed Camilla as an interloper.
This was especially true afterPrincess Diana’s death.
The vitriol towards Camilla remained for years, however.
They might have married sooner if not for Prince William and Prince Harry.
“William and I love her to bits.”
Camilla has excelled in her role, throwing herself into her royal duties.
Among them are charities dedicated to helping the disadvantaged, survivors of abuse, and supporting the arts.
One of her patronages is the Royal Society of Literature, an organization that affirms her love of reading.
This includes her step-grandchildren through Prince Harry and Prince William.
“I love it,” she said.
“I read to them when they were absolutely tiny.
And they’ve got older and older and older, and now they actually read to me!”
Will Camilla Parker Bowles be queen?
It’s still uncertain if she will actually be called queen.
That could be."
